Escutcheon for doors



Sept. 8, 1953 'I E EWALD 2,651,537

' ESCUTCHEON FOR DOORS Filed Nov. 15, 1949 INVENTOR. 7u/z?? Ilya Za.y

/YI'TWTMEYSL Patented Sept. 8, 1953 l t "f`z`,651,5311l 1 EscU'rcnEoN Foltfnons' t Y Edwin Ewald, Damit, Mich., assigner to- Auto- "motive' Appliance Company, Detroit, vMich.,v a 1.

' Partnership' :ApplicationNovember 15, 1949,' v.Serial No'.l 121,404 I i 1 claim. (ol. 292-357) The present invention relates toan Y`improved escutcheon, and the present application is a continuation-in-part of the copending application of Edwin Ewald, Serial No. 35,320, filed June 26, 1948, now abandoned. i The present invention relates to an escutcheon which is employed with a handle, particularly for use in automobiles, and in which the escutcheon covers the opening in the panel through which the shaft of the operatingvmechanism projects.` I Y Oneof the primary objects ofthe present inventionis to provideran economical escutcheon whichfacilitates. the installation or removal of a handle or the like associated with it.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved escutcheon which is formed of a nonmetallic flexible material so that the member may be `compressed or shortened axially for easy assembly or disassembly of the handle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved escutcheon construction having proper bearing relationship with movable handle parts, but at the same time having a good frictional engagement with the adjacent panel or upholstery so that the handle is free to move relative to the escutcheon, but the escutcheon does not move relative to the panel.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following speciflcation, the drawing relating thereto, and from the claim hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing in which like numerals are used to designate like parts in the several views throughout:

Figure 1 is an elevational view taken substantially in the direction of the arrows I-I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view with parts in cross section, taken substantially through the center of the escutcheon, and showing the escutcheon and handle in their final assembled relationship Fig. 3 is a partial view, similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating a different relative position of the escutcheon with respect to the handle for assembly or disassembly thereof;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view toward the inner or under side of the escutcheon; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the escutcheon from the outer side.

Referring to the drawing, the invention is illustrated in connection with the inside door handle of an automobile, but it will be appreciated that it is equally useful on the outside of the door and on other panels.

An inner door panel is indicated at I, and such panelisflnormally metal; covered with la'trii'n panel'fof `various compositions and combinations of materials. The stein 2 of a conventionallatch vmec'hanisrri is` illustrated-as projecting through an opening *3"in the panel, andsuchstem 2 Vis "squarein'the embodiment illustrated. 'I'he outwardly projecting'end of the-stem -isfreceived within" an inwardly Adirected complementary :opening 4 formed in the Ahandle 5. The handle 5 includes an inwardly projecting annular flange 6 through which the squarebpening `4 extends, and whichris cir-cular in cross section ontlie outer periphery. The handleV its-provided with'f'fa pair of aligned openings 'I close Ato the? juncture of the flange 6 with the main body portion of the handle 5, and the stem 2 is provided with a corresponding opening 8 therethrough. The handle and stem are cocked together for rotative movement by a pin 9 which is adapted to project through the aligned openings 1 from one side of the handle, and through the aligned opening 8 in the stem. Y

The improved escutcheon of the present invention is illustrated at I0. The escutcheon member ID comprises a main body portion II `which is a nonmetallic flexible member of generally truncated conical form, and is preferably formed of a flexible plastic material such as Vinylite or rubber. The member II has a relatively large opening I2 at its inner end, and a, relatively smaller opening I3 at its outer end. The opening I3 is defined by the inner periphery of the top of the member I I and by an inwardly directed annular flange I4. The member II is also formed with axially extending ribs I5 which serve to provide the escutcheon with the necessary normal rigidity but at the same time permit the entire escutcheon to be compressed or shortened axially.

The inner peripheral edge of the escutcheon I0 adjacent opening I2 bears against the adjacent surface of the panel I, or against the trim if the escutcheon is employed so, or against an outer panel if so employed, that there is a good grip between the escutcheon and the adjacent panel to keep it from turning.

In order to provide a good bearing between the escutcheon and the handle 5 as the handle is turned, and to permit easy turning movement therebetween, a collar or metal bearing member I6 is disposed Within the opening I3. The bearing member I6 terminates in an outwardly directed, annular liange Il which overlies the outer surface of the escutcheon member II adjacent the corner of opening I3. The collar I6 thus provides a metal bearing between it and the adjacent surface of the ange 6, and also provides a bearing between the outer surface of the annular ange i1 and the adjacent surface of the handle 5.`

Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate the manner in which the handle may be assembled or disassembled. For assembly the ontcheon Il. including both the flexible vmember H and the metaal collar F6, is positioned over the projecting end of the stern 2. The handle 5 is then positioned over the projecting end of the stern 2 so that the flange, E is received within the axial opening of the collar I6. The stem 2 is received within-theopening'l' of the handle 5 so that openings l1 and lIl :are :in 1:5

alignment. The escutcheon i I may then be compressed or shortened axia1ly,. asishown inFizi, so that the outer end of one oi' the openings T is exposed. The pin 9 may then be inserted .through the aligned openings 1 and 8. The pin 9 is of auch la Ylength. that it does not :project beyond peripheral -suracef-ci the flange -6 and Ythe resilienti-escutcheon H will, upon being released, returnto `its normal vpoaiiaiozt as 'shown-.in l. The :pia 9 cannot then become inadvertently displaced 'because .it .is `held 'against axial .moveby the-collar li.. At the same time, the .collar i6 will permit -easy relative :movement .between the: handle L and the escuteheon. tt,v and -msany Positiorhthepin 9 is.l prevented trema-movout oi .its position. However, Ithe be easily removed .by again shorten- =it tothe-,position show-nf. 'm Eig. 3` and pushthe a out.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit of the present invention. the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

Anescutcheon structure comprising a nonmeftallc nexiblemember of generally truncated conical form open at its ends with a relatively smaller opening at one end, said exible member having an integral iiange Within said smaller opening and extending axially thereof, said flexible member being compressible axially thereof `so thatltlie end lraving the smaller opening may be moved 'toward the opposite end, reinforcing ribs formed integral with said exible member intenixn'lyxthereonanda metal collar disposed Within the smaller opening and extending over said iange, said metal collar having a ange extending outwardly over the outer periphery of said smaller opening;

References Cited in the ,le of Vtlrisi paiteitit' PATENTS Number ,Name Date 328,128. Matzenbacher .'.ar Get. I3, 1885 1,582,189 Nicholson anwamnpr. 21, 1-926 11,88%,.655 Marple Nov. 15,A 1932 V27,496,839 Abramoslra+. r..-- Feb. .7,- '1950 25595857'V Edwards- .,a July' .101y .-1951 

